Peptide inhibitors for mediating stress responses

Abstract

The present invention relates to peptides capable of inhibiting cellular and immune stress responses in a eukaryotic cell. The invention provides compositions and methods for the treatment of human degenerative diseases and inflammation, utilizing these peptides.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a peptide comprising an epitope immunoreactive with an anti-idiotypic antibody directed against an anti-p53 antibody, wherein the anti-p53 antibody is immunoreactive with at least a part of the regulatory domain of the C-terminus of p53, and wherein the peptide exhibits at least one activity selected from anti-apoptotic activity and anti-inflammatory activity wherein the length of the peptide is 7 to 25 amino acids and has the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-p53 antibody is PAb-421. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence of said peptide is as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the peptide is administered to the subject by a route selected from oral, topical, transdermal and parenteral.